Teo Hoong Chen and Prof Koh Lian Pin, Researchers in the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions, on 28 May 2021
Reforesting degraded lands is one of the most promising nature-based climate solitions (NCS), with over 850 million hectares of reforestation potential worldwide. Proponents of reforestation point to the importance of forests in intensifying the hydrological cycle, increasing precipitation recycling and water yield. However, studies also show that reforesting drier regions can increase evapotranspiration and reduce the water yield, negatively impacting the local ecosystem and communities.